Compact SUVs are the most popular vehicles on sale today and offer the most models, with over a dozen vying for your heart and dollars. While each has unique attributes and traits, they all follow the same formula: having two rows and seating for five. Well, all except one.
Today, we compare the benchmark in the segment, the 2025 Honda CR-V, to the one model that swims against the tide in the sea of SUVs, the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander.
2025 Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V has won the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award among compact SUVs multiple times and is currently our highest-ranked model. For decades, it has happily satisfied millions of owners with its practicality, reliability, and easygoing manners. This latest generation, which arrived just two years ago, is available as a standard gasoline-powered model and a hybrid, which we review separately. This year, there’s even an innovative fuel-cell variant for California buyers. For this comparison, we highlight the gas models.
Honda CR-V Highlights
Honda Sensing: Standard on every Honda CR-V, this wide-ranging suite of active safety and driver assistance features includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and more.
Easy to load up: The CR-V might be classified as a compact SUV, but it can hold a lot of gear. With the rear seats up, it boasts 39.3 cubic feet of capacity, which grows to 76.5 with the seats down. That’s significantly more space than what the Outlander offers.
Smart Entry With Walk Away Auto Lock: Have you ever worried about locking the car? This ingenious feature will put you at ease. Standard on all but the base trim, it automatically locks the CR-V once you walk away from it.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the CR-V models for sale near you.
2025 Mitsubishi Outlander
The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander holds a special place among compact SUVs: It is now the only model with three rows of seats, and that ability to hold up to seven people is standard in every trim. That trait also makes the Outlander the least-expensive new 3-row SUV on sale today. Beyond that X-factor, the Outlander becomes more noteworthy for 2025 thanks to an update this model year that brings design tweaks and a standard audio system from a famous brand. In addition to the standard gas engine, the Outlander is also available as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the Outlander PHEV, which we review separately.
Mitsubishi Outlander Highlights
Yamaha audio: New for 2025, all Outlander models come with a specially tuned audio system by Yamaha. This partnership marks the first Yamaha system in a car sold in the United States, and our ears are pleased with the results.
Seating for seven: Granted, the third row seats in the Outlander are tiny, but great to have in a pinch. You can leave them folded most of the time, then put them to use in case the kiddos want to bring a couple of friends along.
Stellar warranty: All Mitsubishi vehicles tout a fantastic warranty that includes five years/60,000 miles for basic coverage and 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain. Honda can’t touch those terms.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Outlander models for sale near you.
Similarities
The Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander have similar power outputs and good technology and driver assistance systems arrays. They also have starting prices that won’t break the bank.
New 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$31,885 |
$31,505 |
|||
$35,285 |
$34,300 |
|||
$40,185 |
$39,706 |
|||
$41,385 |
TBD |
|||
$46,335 |
TBD |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Honda CR-V vehicles and New 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Honda CR-V | 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder |
| Towing Capacity | 1,500 pounds | N/A |
| Horsepower | 190 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 181 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 179 lb-ft @ 1,700 rpm | 181 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm |
| Transmission | Automatic, CVT | Automatic, CVT |
| Fuel Economy | 28 city/34 highway/30 combined mpg | 24 city/31 highway/27 combined mpg |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | Not rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 7 |
| Wheelbase | 106.3 inches | 106.5 inches |
| Overall Length | 184.8 inches | 185.8 inches |
| Width | 73.5 inches | 84.4 inches |
| Height | 66.2 inches | 68.8 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.3 feet | 36.1 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.0 inches | 40.6 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 38.2 inches | 39.1 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.3 inches | 41.7 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 41.0 inches | 39.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.9 inches | 57.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 55.9 inches | 55.9 inches |
| Cargo Behind Second Seat | N/A | 30.6 feet |
| Cargo With All Seats Down | 76.5 feet | 64.3 feet |
Specification table reflects the typical configuration of vehicles shown.
Conclusion
The Honda CR-V is our top-ranked compact SUV for a reason: We think it’s the model that will satisfy the most people thanks to its excellent reputation, easy manners, and the fact that it just does everything so well. However, the one thing it can’t do is seat more than five people. If you want a compact SUV that can seat up to seven in a pinch, the Outlander is the only one with that trait.
